Snap and lift package for contact lens

ABSTRACT

A contact lens package includes a first housing member and a second housing member pivotably connected to each other. The package also includes a holding mechanism for holding a contact lens and a receiving mechanism for receiving contact lens solution. When the housing members are in a substantially co-planar orientation, the holding mechanism is positioned within the receiving mechanism. When the housing members are in a non-planar orientation, the holding mechanism is removed from the receiving mechanism such that the holding mechanism is pivotable from a closed position, in which the contact lens held in the holding mechanism is inaccessible to a user, toward an open position, in which the contact lens held in the holding mechanism is accessible to the user.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional filing of U.S. Ser. No.60/666,877, filed on Mar. 31, 2005, a provisional patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a contact lens package and, moreparticularly, to a contact lens package adapted for improvedaccessibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, contact lenses have been packaged in blister packs. Eachblister pack is equipped with a single lens and has a concave-shapedreceptacle for receiving the lens and a cover removably attached to thereceptacle for enclosing the lens in the receptacle. While conventionalblister packs provide a convenient means for shipping and storingcontact lenses, they are not designed to consistently provide easyaccess to the contact lenses. Accordingly, there is a need for a contactlens package that consistently provides easy accessibility to thecontact lens enclosed therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings ofthe prior art discussed above by providing a new and improved contactlens package which includes a first housing member and a second housingmember pivotably connected to each other. In a first position, the firsthousing member is substantially co-planar with the second housingmember, while in a second position, the first housing member is notcoplanar with the second housing member. The package also includes aholding mechanism, such as a pocket, for holding a contact lens, and areceiving mechanism, such as a receptacle for receiving contact lenssolution. The holding mechanism moves conjointly with the second housingmember such that when the second housing member is in its firstposition, the holding mechanism is positioned within the receivingmechanism, and such that when the second housing member is in its secondposition, the holding mechanism is removed from the receiving mechanism.

Another aspect involves the positioning of the holding mechanism whenthe second housing member is in its second position. More particularly,the holding mechanism is movable from a closed position, in which thecontact lens held in the holding mechanism is inaccessible to a user,toward an open position, in which the holding mechanism is positionedabove the receiving mechanism and the contact lens held in the holdingmechanism is accessible to the user. The contact lens solution in theholding mechanism drains through a hole in the holding mechanism andinto the receiving mechanism when the holding mechanism is in its openposition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference ismade to the following detailed description of an exemplary embodimentconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a contact lens package constructed inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,showing the contact lens package in a closed position;

FIGS. 2 to 4 are sequential perspective views of the contact lenspackage of FIG. 1, showing the progressive movement of the contact lenspackage as it moves to a fully open position;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the closed contact lens packageshown in FIG, 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 6-6 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, of the fully opened contact lenspackage shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 7-7 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, of the closed contact lenspackage shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the contact lens package shownin FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-8 show a contact lens package 10 including a pair of housingmembers 12, 14 which are connected to one another. With particularreference to FIG. 1, the housing members 12, 14 are positioned adjacentto one another in a closed position, in which the housing members 12, 14are in a substantially co-planar orientation. The contact lens package10 is delivered to a user in this closed position, as shown in FIG. 1. Ahinge 16 is located between the housing members 12, 14 so as to allowthe housing member 14 to pivot relative to the housing member 12 forpurposes to be described hereinafter.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, the housing member 12 has a gripping rim18 and a plurality of circularly-shaped nibs 20 which protrude outwardlyfrom the gripping rim 18. In similar fashion, the housing member 14 hasa gripping rim 22 and a plurality of circularly-shaped nibs 24 (seeFIGS. 1, 2 and 5-8) which protrude outwardly from the gripping rim 22.The nibs 20, 24 are designed to allow a user to firmly grip the contactlens package 10 for purposes to be described hereinafter.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4 and 8, the housing member 12 has asubstantially U-shaped recess 26 and a base 28 formed therein. Insimilar fashion, the housing member 14 has a substantially U-shapedrecess 30 (see FIG. 8) and a base 32 (see FIG. 8) formed therein. Thebase 28 of the housing member 12 is integrally formed with the base 32of the housing member 14.

Referring to FIGS. 2-8, the housing member 12 also has a concave-shapedreceptacle 34 formed within the recess 26 (see FIGS, 2-4 and 8). Thereceptacle 34 is sized and shaped so as to receive a quantity of aconventional contact lens solution 36, such as saline solution, formaintaining a contact lens 38 (see FIGS, 4 and 6-8) in a hydrated state.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4 and 6-8, a substantially, rigid board 40 ispositioned within the recesses 26, 30 (both of which are shown in FIG.8) formed in the housing members 12, 14, respectively The board 40includes a first section 42 and a second section 44 formed integrallywith one another. The first section 42 is removably positioned withinthe recess 26 (see FIGS. 2-4 and 8) formed in the housing member 12,while the second section 44 is inlaid in the recess 30 (see FIG. 8)formed in the housing member 14 such that the second section 44 isfixedly attached to the base 32 (see FIG. 8).

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, the contact lens package 10 includes a coverlayer 46 which covers the housing members 12, 14 and the board 40. Thecover layer 46 forms a liquid-tight seal between the housing members 12,14 and the board 40 so as to prevent leakage of the contact lenssolution 36 (see FIGS. 2-8) from the receptacle 34. The cover layer 46is adapted to break in response to the application of a predeterminedforce from, for example, the board 40. The cover layer 46 can be madefrom any suitable materials such as polymers or laminates of polymersand metal foils. The cover layer 46 can include indicia (not shown)printed thereon, such as a product name.

With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6-8, the contact lens package 10includes a pocket 48 having an end 50 attached to the first section 42of the board 40. The pocket 48 has a main section 52 which includes aconcave-shaped cavity 54 sized and shaped so as to be accommodatedwithin the receptacle 34 and so as to hold the contact lens 38 (seeFIGS. 4 and 6-8). The main section 52 of the pocket 48 has an edge 56surrounding the cavity 54. The edge 56 is attached to the end 50 of thepocket 48 along a hinge 58. For purposes to be described hereinafter,the hinge 58 is adapted to allow the main section 52 of the pocket 48 topivot relative to the end 50. The cavity 54 has a small opening 60, thefunction of which is discussed below. The board 40 serves to connect thepocket 48 to the second housing member 14.

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the contact lens package 10 is opened asfollows. A user holds the gripping rim 18, preferably gripping the nibs20, of the housing member 12 with his or her thumb and forefinger of onehand, while holding the gripping rim 22, preferably gripping the nibs 24(see FIGS. 1 and 2), of the housing member 14 with his or her thumb andforefinger of the other hand. The housing member 14 is then pivotedabout the hinge 16 such that the housing member 14 and the board 40 moverelative to the housing member 12, thereby rupturing the cover layer 46between the housing member 12 and the board 40. When the contact lenspackage 10 is in its semi-open position as shown in FIG. 3, the housingmember 14 and the board 40 are positioned at an angle of about 90degrees (i.e., substantially perpendicular) relative to the housingmember 12. In the semi-open position shown in FIG. 3, the pocket 48 ispositioned adjacent to the first section 42 of the board 40 such thatthe contact lens 38 is still inaccessible to the user. In order to gainaccess to the contact lens 38, the user pivots the main section 52 ofthe pocket 48 about the hinge 58 until the main section 52 forms anangle of about 90 degrees with the end 50 of the pocket 48 and, hence,with the first section 42 of the board 40 (see FIG. 4). When the mainsection 52 is so positioned, the cavity 54 is positioned above thereceptacle 34, whereby the contact lens solution 36 in the cavity 54drains through the small opening 60 and into the receptacle 34. Afterthe contact lens solution 36 is drained from the cavity 54, the contactlens 38 can be removed by the user from the contact lens package 10.

It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a number ofadvantages and benefits. For instance, the present invention provides acontact lens package 10 adapted for improved accessibility.

It will be understood that the embodiment described herein is merelyexemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variationsand modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. All such variations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. A package for a contact lens, comprising a first housing memberincluding receiving means for receiving contact lens solution; a secondhousing member connected to said first housing member such that saidsecond housing member is pivotable relative to said first housing memberfrom a first position, in which said second housing member issubstantially co-planar with said first housing member, to a secondposition, in which said second housing member is not co-planar with saidfirst housing member; and holding means for holding a contact lens, saidholding means being movable conjointly with said second housing membersuch that said holding means is positioned within said receiving meanswhen said second housing member is in its said first position and suchthat said holding means is removed from said receiving means when saidsecond housing member is in its said second position.
 2. The package ofclaim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises a receptacle formed insaid first housing member.
 3. The package of claim 2, wherein saidholding means comprises a pocket having a cavity sized and shaped so asto hold a contact lens.
 4. The package of claim 3, further comprisingconnecting means for connecting said pocket to said second housingmember.
 5. The package of claim 4, wherein said connecting meansincludes a board having one end releaseably attached to said firsthousing member and an opposite end fixedly attached to said secondhousing member.
 6. The package of claim 5, further comprising a coverlayer affixed to said first housing member, said second housing member,and said board such that said cover layer forms a liquid-tight sealwhich prevents leakage of contact lens solution from said receptacle. 7.The package of claim 6, further comprising rupturing means for rupturingsaid cover layer as said second housing member moves from its said firstposition toward its said second position.
 8. The package of claim 7,wherein said rupturing means includes said one end of said board,whereby said one end of said board ruptures said cover layer when forcedagainst said cover layer
 9. The package of claim 8, wherein said cavityis movable from a closed position, in which said cavity is proximal tosaid board and in which a contact lens held in said cavity isinaccessible to a user, to an open position, in which said cavity ispositioned remote from said board and in which a contact lens held insaid cavity is accessible to a user.
 10. The package of claim 9, whereinsaid board moves conjointly with said second housing member as saidsecond housing member moves from its said first position toward its saidsecond position.
 11. The package of claim 10, wherein said first housingmember includes a first recess and said second housing member includes asecond recess, and wherein said one end of said board is releaseablypositioned within said first recess and said opposite end of said boardis fixedly received in said second recess.
 12. The package of claim 11,wherein said first housing member includes first gripping means forimproving the grippability of said first housing member and said secondhousing member includes second gripping means for improving thegrippability of said second housing member.
 13. The package of claim 12,wherein said first housing member includes a first free end and saidsecond housing member includes a second free end, and wherein said firstgripping means includes a plurality of nibs formed in said first freeend, and said second gripping means includes a plurality of nibs formedin said second free end.
 14. The package of claim 13, wherein saidcavity is positioned above said receptacle when said cavity is in itssaid open position; and wherein said cavity includes an opening sizedand shaped so as to allow contact lens solution in said cavity to passthrough said cavity and into said receptacle when said cavity is in itssaid open position.
 15. The package of claim 14, further comprising afirst hinge connected to said first housing member and to said secondhousing member, said first hinge adapted to allow said second housingmember to pivot relative to said first housing member.
 16. The packageof claim 15, further comprising a second hinge connected to said pocketand to said board, said second hinge adapted to allow said pocket topivot relative to said board.
 17. The package of claim 16, wherein saidpocket moves conjointly with said board as said second housing membermoves from its said first position toward its said second position,whereby said cavity of said pocket is movable from its said closedposition toward its said open position when said second housing memberis in its said second position.
 18. The package of claim 17, whereinsaid cover layer includes a laminate made from aluminum foil.